Chapter Two
Not one suitor expressed more reluctance towards the pursuit of the Queen than Larsa Ferrinas Solidor, Emperor of Archadia. He ventured forth to Rabanastre with a heavy heart, not to mention an unhealthy portion of attitude.
Perhaps it was just as well that his most trusted, his most honest Judge Magister Kilbourne was brought along to keep the young monarch in line.
Memoirs of the Duke of Bervenia
"...and I take it that plans have been finalized for the trip to Rabanastre?" Gabranth asked.
Kilbourne opened his valise and started placing the meticulously laid out items from the bed into the case.
"All parties have confirmed. We are set for a departure tomorrow morning." Upon seeing Rjth's disdainful examination of his kit, he sighed. "Yes, Rjth?"
"If you hope to woo, I should hope that you pack something more elaborate," she replied succinctly.
Kilbourne gritted his teeth. "I have no intention of wooing."
"No intention?" Gabranth asked.
"Why do you sound so surprised?" Kilbourne shot back.
"Have you not spent the last five years-"
"I have spent my last five years wisely, and well. I defend a land that I love, serve a good man, and have the pleasure of taking on tasks that I enjoy," Kilbourne asserted.
"And that is all you want?" Rjth asked.
"It's the most I could ask for."
"What foolishness is this talk?" Gabranth questioned.
"We came here so that-" Rjth began.
"Rjth, we came here to start over. We have," Kilbourne asserted.
"I had always assumed that, once you felt you had proved yourself-" Gabranth began.
"Proved myself? To whom?" Kilbourne laughed incredulously. "I assure you, I am well aware of my most excellent qualities."
Gabranth and Rjth glanced at each other.
Kilbourne looked at the two, sighed, and turned back to his case. "At first I was reluctant to leave with Larsa, but it is clear that this vacation is long overdue. It will be liberating to be away from the two of you, if only for a day."
Gabranth grinned widely as he put an arm around his wife's waist. "Come now, Kilbourne. You'll miss us."
"You must stop this cheerfulness. It's absolutely disgusting," Kilbourne quipped.
Gabranth gave a gruff guffaw. Rjth sniffed with amused derision. "You will protect him?" Rjth asserted.
"But of course," Kilbourne assured her. "Larsa will be safe with me."
"If we are needed-"
"Your presence won't be necessary."
"Larsa has grown...restless as of late."
"I can remember what being a teenage boy was like, Rjth. It wasn't that long ago. I will watch him. Now if you don't mind, I must arrange a few more matters before tomorrow's departure," Kilbourne turned to gaze at the couple. He'd had just as much as he was going to take.
Knowing they'd been dismissed, Rjth put an arm on her husband's armored shoulder, ushering him towards the door of Kilbourne's chambers. "Come, let us go."
"Safe travels, Kilbourne," Gabranth tossed over his shoulder.
Kilbourne nodded.
With the closing of the doors, Kilbourne listened for their retreating footsteps, their withdrawing conversation. And smiled tiredly. Perhaps he was a bit happy for his friends. Now in the comfort of solitude, he drew the curtains of his windows and lit a lantern. He withdrew a small envelop from the depths of his dresser.
Fingering the flap, he simply stared at it. He hadn't opened it for five years. He turned to look at the valise. Perhaps...
No. Kilbourne placed the envelope back, deep in a corner behind his shirts.
"No."
"I think it would be wiser if one of us also went," Rjth told her husband as she unbuckled and pulled off her armor in the privacy of their chambers.
Already free of his armor, Gabranth stopped pouring the wine, and raised a brow in inquiry.
"For Larsa's safety," Rjth elaborated.
"Larsa? Do you really worry that Kilbourne will be distracted by the queen?"
Rjth pursed her lips in thought as she happily laid aside her boots. Of all the things she'd had to do since becoming a judge magister, adjusting to the unusual footwear had to be the worst. "He assures us he will not. And in the past, while he was not hesitant to...enjoy the attentions of the opposite sex, he always maintained focus when necessary."
"Then...he likely will not," Gabranth sighed.
"He has not seen her in five years," Rjth stated.
Gabranth nodded. After a sip of wine and an appreciative sigh, he pondered aloud, "I wonder if Larsa will figure it out."
"Undoubtedly. The boy is sharp, and has always wondered at the secrecy."
"Larsa will use the knowledge to his advantage-"
"-which may not have an adverse result."
Gabranth laughed. "I will admit that I wish I could go, just to watch what happens."
Rjth pulled her hair out from the confines of her ponytail, letting the luxurious curls fall freely around her shoulders. The candlelight danced in the iridescent strands. Gabranth sighed with admiration. "But there is something to be said for staying here together. Alone."
Rjth smiled slyly, approaching her husband to take the glass from his hand. He interrupted the gesture by taking her hand to his lips and placing a kiss on the palm.
"Perhaps," she replied, caressing and kissing her husband's scar before taking her glass.
"I thought that the goal of the ball was to present her with suitors, not competition," Larsa sighed with disgust as he passed the fifth gaggle of giggling girls in the hallway.
"Matchmaking mothers cannot resist an opportunity to throw their own daughters at the parade of eligible bachelors," Kilbourne mused.
Though all the machinations were clearly lost on Larsa. His brow was wrinkled with annoyance as he elegantly side-stepped another dropped handkerchief.
"...and others do not mind being pursued at all," Kilbourne observed as he saw a familiar face in the center of one of those circles of ladies.
Larsa looked over, and gave a small smirk. "Of course."
Al-Cid Margrace grinned as he met eyes with the young emperor over the elaborate hairdos of his admirers. After a few kisses to a few hands, the newly crowned king of Rozarria left the small crowd of adoring ladies to approach the two men. "The little emperor is little no longer! And has grown well!" He stepped forward to shake hands with Larsa enthusiastically. Tipping his sunglasses down his nose, he grinned rakishly. "He comes to take a wife, perhaps?" Margrace turned to eye Kilbourne carefully. At length, the king stepped back, knowing smirk upon his lips. "I see you have brought the Hero of Rabanastre."
"Many heroes were made in that battle," Kilbourne replied.
"Not many went on to become powerful judge magisters, though. Powerful, decorated, titled, perhaps...eligible judge magisters? Or, so my reports tell me..."
Kilbourne remained still, absorbing the insinuation with insouciance. Larsa remained reticent, but watched his judge magister carefully. That damned helmet.
At length, Al-Cid stepped back with a grin. "It is good to see you again. I look forward to seeing our Dalmascan desert bloom once more, as I am sure you do. I have heard that she has only grown in beauty."
"No doubt," Larsa replied diplomatically.
"Well," Al-Cid smiled as his assistant came forward, beckoning his attention with a gentle wave. "I see I am needed. We will talk again soon?"
"To be sure," Larsa replied.
Kilbourne maintained his silence. The two stood together as they watched Margrace stroll away, hooking an arm around two blushing birds of his entourage. "To think that a nation is under the guidance of that man..."
Larsa laughed. "You know, as well as I, that Margrace's manners are deceiving."
And having been subjected to the powers of Margrace's shrewdness, Kilbourne kept his reply to himself.
"Come, Kilbourne, we must get settled soon. I have arranged to take tea with Lady Penelo this afternoon."
The sun saturated the tiles of the balcony. Despite the stark desert horizon, the palace gardens writhed with life; thick colorful leaves and blooms cheerfully hailed the sun. The sound of the gentle trickle of water in the fountains was soothing. Kilbourne took a deep breath of the fragrant, sweet air. "I was not aware that you'd made plans with Lady Penelo," he observed to Larsa.
"It was a last-minute addition to the schedule," Larsa stated. "It's always good to see old friends again, wouldn't you agree?"
Kilbourne maintained his silence, scanning the horizon.
They turned at the sound of light cheerful footfalls on the tiles. The steps came to an abrupt halt; the woman who entered was absolutely stunned. "L-Larsa!?"
She was also absolutely stunning. "Penelo?" Larsa uttered with surprise.
And right then and there, it was clear to Kilbourne that while young Solidor was well on his way to becoming a man by all physical appearances, the, er...other side of puberty was only striking its quarry now.
And there was no one else present to point and laugh with him.
"Yes, ah...it's been a while, hasn't it?" Penelo stepped forward.
"Quite," Larsa replied, his voice richer, deeper than Kilbourne had ever heard.
Kilbourne hid his unstoppable snicker by clearing his throat.
At the sound, the startled teenager turned. "Ah...Kilbourne!" Larsa exclaimed. The flustered look upon his face made Kilbourne feel a bit of pity for the fellow. "My lady Penelo," Larsa continued, "I would like to introduce to you one of my most trusted judge magisters, Kilbourne."
Kilbourne bowed politely.
Penelo smiled widely. "It is very nice to meet you at last, Judge Kilbourne. Larsa has written of you before. Good things, of course."
"He has spoken well of you, Lady Penelo," Kilbourne replied.
Penelo blushed.
What was he, a chaperone? Surely, he would have thought, having been a lady-in-waiting in Ashe's service for four years now, Penelo would have had more experience with men...
"Tea!" Penelo exclaimed, as if the thought had only just occurred to her. "We have set up tea on the other side of the gardens, in the private quarter. Perhaps we can walk over now?"
She started to turn away.
Offer her your arm! Kilbourne mentally urged Larsa.
"My lady?" Larsa offered his arm.
Kilbourne could not help the smile of pride and satisfaction as he followed them down the pathway. They were not out of the woods yet, if the awkward silence was any indication, but they were on their way.
"I hope you don't mind, we have company for tea," Penelo began.
"Oh?" Larsa asked.
"When I informed Her Majesty of my plans this afternoon, she insisted on joining us," Penelo explained.
"Oh," Larsa said, awkwardly.
The news was not supposed to be taken with such hesitation or seriousness. Kilbourne mourned that this particular situation had placed an unnecessary strain on Larsa's feelings towards Dalmasca and its monarch. Had Ashelia and Larsa not been comrades before? Wherefore had the easy companionship dissipated?
"She will be pleased to see you, and she has many questions about Ba--Gabranth's wellbeing."
"But of course. I will be delighted to answer her inquiries."
Penelo reached into a wall of roses and pulled on a latch. A gate swung inwards to reveal the private gardens of the Queen of Dalmasca.
Sanctuary. The word saturated the atmosphere. Penelo led her guests through a garden saturated with roses in jubilant, colorful bloom.
As Larsa remained reticent, Kilbourne ventured polite conversation. "Her majesty has a lovely garden."
"Her gardens are one of her passions. She spends much time out here, reading, working on her correspondence."
"Some of the roses look quite unusual."
"They are actually bred by the Queen herself."
"Such a hobby requires patience."
"Her Majesty has developed fortitude for waiting," Penelo replied. "This," she gestured to a brilliant, sunshine yellow rose, "is her latest hybrid."
"What a brilliant color," Kilbourne observed.
"It is named Pirat--"
"My lady?"
Penelo smiled apologetically to her guests and turned to the man who awaited her notice at the far end of the rose garden. "Yes, Rawlings?"
The butler shifted uncomfortably. "It's just that the tea's been ready for a bit of time now. And Her Majesty awaits your guests..."
Penelo blushed. "Ah, yes. I'm sorry. I...I got a bit distracted when greeting them," she said quietly. "We should continue on. I--we can show you the gardens later."
Larsa smiled good-naturedly. "Of course. A good afternoon stroll after tea would be wonderful," he admitted gallantly.
Penelo quickened her steps and conveyed her guests to the far side of the garden; upon walking through another gate, the men found themselves in the presence of Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca.
